ECHOES OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1267, 11 June 1896, Page 23

ECHOES OF THE WEEK.

Satire’s my weapon, but I’m t"0 discreet To run amuck and tilt at all I meet, Popk,

BY SCRUTATOR.

Captain Russell represents what the Voneerings (in “ Our Mutual Friend”) once called “The Gentlemanly Interest.” He is a public school man, and his courtesy title in the House is “The honourable and gallant gentleman for Hawke’s Bay.” 1 have often heard Captain Russell alluded to as “ Such a gentlemanly speaker, don’t cher know 1 Such a contrast to those rough and ready Liberals.” But from what MrSeddon told us at his mooting on Tuesday night Captain Russell’s idea of what constitutes “gentlemanly” similes and metaphois is somewhat peculiar. Captain Russell, remarked the Premier, had compared him (Air Soddon) to an “old boar which, on being brought to bay, had put his stern against the rock and had snorted and snarled whenever they came near him.” Surely the “ honourable and gallant member for Hawke’s Bay ” must have forgotten his representation of the (alleged) “gentlemanly” interest when he descended to such vulgarity.

Touching that mooting on Tuesday night, Air Seddon undoubtedly scored a great triumph, and I look forward to good effects from his speech, in tho shape of some very material change in the representation of the city at the next general election. What is wanted is that the Liberal candidates shall bo men of fair oratorical ability, free from any personal fads and pledged to the hilt to resist any attempt to return to the had old days of land monopoly and Government for and by the “ classes,” and above all that self shall he dropped and that the Democratic party in the city shall work as one man with might and main to put the chosen candidates into Parliament. There must he no vote splitting, no silly paltry dissensions ; but let us pull together, pull witli a will and assuredly if wo do not gain the victory —and that 1 think is far from improbable, in spite of the saying that "Wellington is a Conservative city—at least wo shall have deserved it.

Why is Air Duthie so miserably spiteful and deliberately venomous in his political speeches? Both in and out of tho House he rarely speaks on political subjects without displaying a malignantly malicious spirit, which sits badly on any man, and especially on one who is everlastingly pasiug as a censor of his brother politicians. Take just one reference in his Danevirke speech the other day as an instance. “ Another friend of the people, Air Reeves, burdened tho statute books with a lot of bills that were only waste paper, and then he took tho Agent-Generalship, and the Into judge, whoso death ho very much regretted, got a judgeship for himself.” Could anything be in viler taste than this Caddish and cowardly sneer at a dead man, a man who, wmc ho living, would and could give Ate John Duthie just about as good a dressing down as this “ purse-proud merchant” (I quote Mr John AlcKonzio’s hasty but very apt appellation) deserves. According to this sneering know-al 1, Mr D utliio, Sir Patrick Buckley “got a judgeship for himself.” 'The iuuendo is, of course, that Sir Patrick used his position in the AliuiUry to get an appointment for which he was not fitted, that he was guilty of political corruption and robbery, that he did in fact a mean and contemptible thing. Now so far from this being tho truth the facts are that tho late Sir Patrick Buckley had, so it is perfectly well-known to everyone—save to such political ignoramuses as Mr Duthie —did not wish to take the judgsliip, that by taking it ho forfeited a considerable income as a member of tho legal firm with which lie was connected, that he felt the work was too arduous for a mail in his ever delicate health, that, in fact,so far from the judgeship being a “ good thing” for him its acceptance meant a great personal sacrifice, a sacrifice which I question very much whether Air Duthie would ever have made had lie occupied tho same position—of which, thank heaven however, there is not the remotest chance. Tho worst tiling about this low, mean—unspeakably mean —sneer at a dead man, is that Air Duthie is everlastingly maundering away on public platforms in that rasping raucous voice of liia, upon the necessity of public men being treated [with fairness, and discoursing with dreary reiterance on the wickedness of AI rSeddon and other members of the Ministry in "abusing ” the Oppositionists. Air Duthie should bo tho last to complain of dirt throwing. Ho lives on a particularly dirty muck heap of his own.

I am not ordinarily enamoured of the perusal of political speeches, holding them, as a rule, a weariness of tho spirit, but I have noDced with great satisfaction that the Premier lias scathingly denounced tho hypocrisy of those of the Opposition (Captain Russell 13 one of them) who are now profossing to lament the loss of Air Ballanco.

Here lam heartily with Air Seddon. I knew the late Air Ballance intimately, not only when he was in Parliament, but when he was out of it—during the period when Wanganui, to its eternal disgrace, was represented by poor doddering old “Wully” Watt, who, although a generous-hearted and, in many ways, most worthy citizen, was not fit, politically, to tie Air Ballance’s shoe-strings. Now, during all this time the Conservative organs and the Conservative speakers —especially Captain Russell —never tired of abusing tho late Air Ballance and his political views, and I can tell you that gentleman returned their opposition with interest.

In politics the late John Ballance never did tilings by halves. He was a good lover and a good hater, and were he living-to-day Captain Russell and those who now so hypocritically profess to lament His absence and profess, too, to have been “ with him ” on so many points, would bo feeling the lash of his tongue and pen worse than ever now that the squattocraey allied with tho snobocracy are endeavouring to gull tho peoplo into deserting democratic principles. I well remember the late Air Ballance warning the present writer, when in Napier, to lie ever wary and cautious against the Russell-Ormond clique—“ 'They are so full of clever ruses, and they are against tho small settlors all the time.” To-day Air John Davies Ormond is almost an exploded force in Hawke’s Bay, hut Captain Russell remains, and it is enough to sot even a cat laughing to hear of “the lord of Flaxmore,” the chief of “The Twelve Apostles,” posing as an admirer of John Ballance.

At last, after many months of weary watching, 1 have come across a truthful paragraph in Liberty, that most inappro-priately-named organ of tho Auckland branch of the National Conservative Association. Here it is: “ The Premier of the Colony is possessed of a robust physique and mental fibre of corresponding toughness. He is gifted with ability of no mean order, and with great facility conveys to an audience the impression of sincerity and earnestness, which goes a long way to secure the sympathy for the speaker.” I had road so far when I had to stop and take breath, to fortify myself for the ejaculation which was forced from mo of “Is Saul, also, among the prophets ?” Alas ! however, it was only by chance that Liberty drifted for once into veracity and did justice to an opponent. Soon, all too soon, alas, succeeds the usual dreary old screed, in which Air Seddon and his colleagues are charged with every iniquity under the sun, from pitch-and-toss to manslaughter. Tho Ministers’ “ moral sense is blunted,” t hey deal in “ knavish tricks,” they indulge in “ bounce and bunkum.” Since Captain Russell indulged in this latter harmless little alliteration every tuppeny-ha’penny Conservative inkslinging hack, scribbling in a dirty hack pub parlour over a pint of beer, about tho “ true interests of this great and glorious country,” has slavishly copied the expression and trotted it out as something original and scintillating with satire. Also wo arc told, and this with positively touching bitterness, that “ the Trades and Labour Councils are mere puppets in sympathy with the Alinistry,” and “ have become infatuated supporters of the present regime.” Naturally enough the workers are not likely to support tho National Ass., which, in Auckland at any rate, is mainly composed of “sweaters” and supporters of long hours and no holidays. Finally, Liberty strongly advises its readers to put only tho best men in the new Parliament. But who are tho best men? The wealthy, of course, is Liberty's and the Ass’s, secretly cherished definition of tho “ best,” but it is a definition which I do not think will he accepted and confirmed by the great mass of the electors.

Aleamviiile, 1 do most sincerely rejoice that Liberty has for onco told tho truth, as il did in the extract with which the last “Echo” commenced. “He conveys to an audience the -imjiression of sincerity and earnestness which goes a long way to secure sympathy for the speaker.” Poor Captain Russell, poor Sir Robert, the above could never lie said of you.

An old friend and valued correspondent writes to take me to task for certain remarks passed in “Echoes ” of May 28, upon the outbreak of smallpox at Gloucester, lie says he is sorry to find mo “ amongst the bigots,” and advises me to look through a pile of anti-vaccination pamphlets which which he is kind enough to send mo. AVell, I have looked through tho pamphlets and I remain, like the proverbial woman, “of tho same opinion still,” namely, that granted you have good healthy lymph, Jonner’s great discovery is one of the greatest boons ever given to suffering mankind. 1 would ask my correspondent and others who may object to vaccination to carefully study the following facts as to the recent outbreak at Gloucester. I condense them from a two column article in a Home paper, and

if they do but bring one Now Zealand antivaccinationist into tho fold of common sense on this subject I shall be amply repaid for my’trouble.

Now as to the facts. Up to Alarch 27th the number of persons attacked by smallpox in Gloucester totalled 305. Of these 2n7 had not been vaccinated, 158 (chiefly adults) had been vaccinated only in infancy, 1 only had been re-vaccinated. Among the 81 deaths there wero 70 unvarcinated cases, and 11 where vaccination had been only in infancy. Thus, among the noilvaccinated, the deaths wore one in three, among the vaccinated only in infancy, but 1 in IT. Not a single death had occurred in a vaccinated person under 21 years of age. Of course, the conclusion would be st il more in favour of vaccination if it were considered how large a number of children escaped being attacked at all, owing to the protection afforded by vaccination. Of all the medical men, trained nurses and attendants, who, after being vaccinated, were brought into close contact with tho disease, since the commencement of the outbreak, not one took tho infection. There were numerous cases in which the uuvaccinated persons in a family had caught the disease, while the members who have been vaccinated escaped. With the above facts before me, 1 think I am fairly entitled to hold, against all-comers, my previous and firm conviction that tho antivaccintionist (always excepting cases where bad lymph is provided) is an enemy to himself, his family and to society at largo.

Ilawera baa a mayor, whose name, alas, I forget, but whose capacity for diagreement with his fellow city Solons is on a par with that of “ Our George.” The other day a councillor having stated that he had heard certain reports about the mayor which ho thought should bo cleared up, there was a long discussion which ended, according to the local <S’far, by His Worship saying, “ Let those who are innocent throw a stone.” He intended to vindicate his, character in a court of law, and “ lie challenged them to toll him why his character should he thus impugned. It was their dirty, dastardly, moan, lying, scandalous— —” But here several councillors rose in protest, and a motion for adjournment being proposed and seconded tho meeting “ rose hastily without its being put.” Perhaps tho councillors imagined that the mayor might follow up his strong language by actions equally forcible, and that following the immortal “scene” in which Bret llarte’s hero, Air “ Abner Dean of Angel’s,” took part, the “chunks of old red sandstone” —or tho Ilawera substitute for those geological weapons—might soon be flying about. That discretion is tho better part of valour is an ancient truism which had, no doubt, much to do with tho sudden clearance of tho Council Chambers. Air Fisher would feel himself quite at homo at ilawera.

“ R.A.B. ” writes from Alarton drawing attention to the very low railway platforms which are to he found at so many railway stations. He says : —“ It is, as perhaps you are aware, an exceedingly dangerous thing for a woman who is enceinte to jump off a train, and I have seen casos where women have had to get down on tho line. There is no doubt that it causes a great deal of suffering, and it lias always been a conundrum to me to know how it is that none of our railway authorities have not noticed this evil and rendered it.” 1 might point out to “ R.A.B. ” that it is rarely necessary for any woman, whether in delicate health or otherwise, to jump off a train. There is always someone who will only too willingly assist her to ’alight in perfect safety and convenience. 'The cost of raising the platforms, although, no doubt, such is desirable, is far too heavy to he even thought of in tho present state of the Colony’s finances.

“ K'ritikus ” sends mo tho following amusing litllo skit : THE “ NATIONAL ” SLAUGHTERMAN! MU JAMILS WII.KIIO’S HUTCIIKUY iOSTAiU.ISH - HUNT. “ Air James "Wilkie has now thoroughly renovated and done up ids premises. This we learn from a Conservative paper tho North Olnyu Times, “And has effected improvements which make his establishment essentially businesslike and orderly. The old building has been done u/i and renovated until it is an entirely different place. The walls of tho shop have been covered with linoleum for the sake of cleanliness, and the floor right through lias been concreted.” Ho will now, presumably, he able to produce much more “killing” effects with his series of letters against the Sodden Government. Wo again quote from our contemporary: “Capacious curing and pickling appliances have been put in, and Air Wilkie has also purchased a large new sausagemaking machine which is driven by a water motor.” jftThe bags of mystery (or sausages) will doubtless be largely made up of financial

scraps and trifles, picked up after ail entertainment by the Stout wizard. “ Pickled politics ” and “ cured Conservatism ” will, no doubt, be specialities of the business. The North Otago Times goes oa to say that tho water motor “ Is also to bo used to drive a dynamo, tho enterprising proprietor having decided to introduce the electric light. It will be further useful to drive a largo fan which is to be inserted to provide a drought of pure air right through tho shop and buildings.” Electricity will doubtless bo an improvement upon tho Parliamentary “gas,” of which the country has had too much. As regards “pure air,” it is conjectured that tho redoubtable Jimmy would prefer draughts of pure beer—or bank “ drafts on a more liberal scale than hitherto. Tho Rbntgen rays would be necessary adjuncts of the business, to enable a thorough diagnosis to be made of certain Liberal statesmen, whose density (according to .Tames W.) is proverbial. Again we quote :

“ Ample office accommodation has been arranged and Air Wilkio intends to put on the telephone for the uso of his customers. A liberal supply of clean water and elaborate channelling guarantees the freshness of everything about tho establishment. Air Wilkio intends to effect other improvements to tho/rout of his premises, finding that tho spread of his business will justify his launching out in this direction. His establishment is now very thoroughly equipped for tho requirements of an increasing business.’' All this is delightful and cheering. If Air Wilkio is not thoroughly “done up” after all these exertions, ho might “put on ” the kinetograph to enable his customers to see what goes on in tho House of Representatives. This “clean water” is supposed for the washing of dirty linen, of which there is always an ample supply* while the “freshness” desired is a condition of verdancy on tho part of the electors. It has been thought by an observant public that it was iiiqiossiblo for Air Wilkio to pile on more “front” than heretofore ; but his determination to do so shows that tho National Abattoirs have resources hitherto undreamed of. Tho “spread” of Ah "Wilkie’s business justifys him in “ lunching out ” —at a sixpenny restuuraunt! —a delightful “ spread ”!!

Mr Alexander Stuart, of Napier, sends mo the following clover verses : "the higher individual." ["They (the people of Now Zealand)" must endeavour to get social reform and what \va3 termed by an American writer the " h'ghcr individual." Sir Robert Stout at Hastings, June Ith, lft[)u'.] Where is tliis man beyond compare Who is, of all the ages, heir, The fittest chief to lead you all ? Where can wo find this paragon, This great and good and virtuous one, The man of pure and lofty tone, " The Higher Individual r" Look not afar, ye common men, lint straight this way direct your Icon — His knightly form, indeed you all Can plainly .sue before you stand, The greatest .statesman in the land, Who'll soon the ship of State command, The " Higher Individual !" For long, alas, and many a day Your statesmen have been common clay, Of whom 'tis time to rid you all ; For now approach the day and date When they'll bo forced to abdicate, Anil in their place will rule in state The " Higher Individual." Great happiness will then be yours For all your ills —immediate euros— Which very greatly need you all— He'll irivo yon honest Government, And every one will bo content, Esuecially that noble gent The "Higher Individual." Big Scddon soon will havo to take A back seat, where ho cannot make Bad laws, that would mislead you all; And wha will male' Mackenzie weop To leave the lands, he meant to keep For men and women, still to snoop? The "Higher Individual." Then Ward as well as farmer John Will find his occupation gone, No more he'll tax and bleed you all ; For soon a brand new Treasurer Will take his place and mala; a stir, His name beginning with a " Sir," The " Higher Individual." Away false Liberals away ! In power no longer can ye stay, The electors will forbid you all — For they, you'll see,-will vote en masse, Led by the glorious National Ass., For one who is, and always was, The " Higher Individual!" Looking over this week's " Echoes " before sending them to my worthy friends the printers, J .see they arc very largely tingod with politics. It really can't bo helped sometimes but 1 promise you a rest next week. With the House in full swing you will have enough and to spare of politics without " Scrutator " entering the lists as he has done to-day.